Music fans got vaccinated while at Savannah in the Round

FESTIVAL goers have rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated on the first day of the much anticipated music festival while listening to an amazing line up of Australian talent.

FESTIVAL goers have rolled up their sleeve to get vaccinated on the first day of the much anticipated music festival while listening to an amazing line up of Australian talent.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service set up a pop-up clinic at the front of the festival organised on the first day of the three-day event.

Forty people were vaccinated from 8am until 4pm on Friday, with some getting their first and others getting their second dose.

Covid vaccination program director Kelly Pollock said they were excited to do more pop-up clinics in the Cairns and Hinterland region.

Kelly Pollock and Bevan Bingarape greet Festival goers at the Covid-19 Vaccination Station. Picture: Emily Barker.

“The reaction has been very positive,” Ms Pollock said.

There was a great response from people at the festival.

“Festival goers told us that this was a great idea,” Ms Pollock said.

“Pop up clinics are an excellent way for people to get vaccinated by going out to where people live, work and play.”

Savannah in the Round event director James Dein said the more people that get vaccinated, the sooner the music industry can return to normal.

“Creating a festival in the middle of a pandemic is no easy task, but vaccination is the key to freedom,” Mr Dein said.

“We have worked hard for over two years now on ensuring our Covid plan is best practice.”

It is the first music festival vaccination hub in Australia and Mr Dein was encouraging patrons to get jabbed on Friday.

It was very easy to get vaccinated with staff approaching festival goers as soon as they walked in to see if they were wanting to get vaccinated.

Queensland Health's pop-up Vaccination Station at Savannah in the Round. Frankie Robbin-Hill, Kelly Pollock, Di Elliot, Jan Demaine, Ellie Leszczewicz, Jazmin Carhllgasu and Bevan Bingarape. Picture: Emily Barker.

“It was pretty well received. We had no negativity or push back,” Mr Dein said.

While the vaccination hub ended at the festival on Friday, there is plenty of opportunity to still get the jab with the Convention Centre vaccination hub still open.

On Friday 893 people were vaccinated with most people receiving their second dose.

The Cairns Convention Centre hub is open six days a week (closed Mondays) from 7am to 3pm until October 10.

Anyone over the age of 12 is welcome to attend the Cairns Convention Centre with free parking available.

Registrations are preferred but walk-ins are available.

Originally published as Music fans got vaccinated while at Savannah in the Round